Improvement in circuit-closers for railway-signals



J.I.C0NKLIN,J1-.

GIRCUIT-CLOSERS FoP. RAILWAY SIGNALS.

Patented Oct. Z4, 1876.

NJ'E ERS. PMOTD-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTQNy D a UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOSEPH I. OONKLIN, JR., OF NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES A. DRESSER, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIRCUIT-CLOSERS FOR RAILWAY-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,643, dated October 24, 1876 application tiled May 22, 1876.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH I. GoNKLIN, Jr., ot' the city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Track Circuit Glosers, of which the following is a specitication:

This improvement is made for allowing the traclrcircuit closer to be moved more or less, according to the weight passing over the same, without the risk ot' injury to the parts.

I make use of a hollow column of indiarubber, or similar elastic material, cemented into a hollow metal base, and within the hollow columnV there are two upright springs, one of which is connected to the line-wire ot' the railway-signal; the other is connected with the track. A contact-pin is applied to the cap of' the elastic column, and the said contactpin, when forced in between said springs closes the circuit and causes the electric signal, and said contact-pin may be pressed down more or less without risk of injuring the springs.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the circuit-closer, and Fig. 2 is a plan at the line x 9:.A

The hollow column a, of india-rubber or similar material, may be provided with an in,- ternal wire helix, b. c is a metal base, having a circular auge, c', within which the column a is cemented. The cap d is preferably of india-rubber, having a headed contact-pin, z', passing through the same, and extending down within the hollow column a. The contact-springs e and f are connected with the base c; but one spring, e, is insulated. (and from this the wire h extends to the railway-signal,) and the other spring,f, is in metallic connection with the track by the Wire m, or otherwise. The contact-pin ldoes not touch the springs e and f except when the column a is compressed by the passing weight on the railway-track, and when this takes place the circuit is closed through e, t', and j'.

The contact-pin t', as it moves up and down between e and f, keeps the surfaces clean and bright.

I claim as my invention- The circuit-closer composed of the springs e andf within the hollow elastic column a, and the contact-piu i, passing through the cap d, as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 18th day ot' May, 1876.

J. I. OONKLIN, Jn. Witnesses:

GEO. T. PiNoKNEY, UHAs. H. SMITH. 

